Light for gasoline dispensing nozzles



June 18, 1935. s. K. WOOD ET AL I LIGHT FOB GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLES Filed Oct. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Shed 1 l'mnentora I (lttornelg' June 18, 1935. s, K, WOOD Er AL LIGHT FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLES Filed Oct. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 00d Aides L14 elliit' Patented June 18,1935 Y w inu sp; srares Lions: non

GAsoLiNsmsPnNsiNG 4 NOZZLES w, p. 3 MW Strand K. Wod, Ben L. Eales, and Leo V. De

- 7 Witt, Hutchinson, Kans.

Application center is, 1933, Serial No. 693,770

during the operation of filling such tank.

A material saving in the illumination around a filling station can thus be eifected as numerous lights are now employed to avoid shadows regardless of the position of a customers car with relation to a gasoline pump. The light will prove desirable even in the day time as attendants .now commonly resort to shaking a car to ascertain the gasoline level as the car gages frequently cannot be depended upon to accurately register.

The invention contemplates the provision of an electric light of the general characteroutlined which is absolutely spark proof to avoid ignition of gasoline fumes or vapors which arise from gasoline dispensing apparatus and tanks, and in its preferred form, is provided with an automatic switch so that the light will be on whenever the dispensing, nozzle is lowered for any purpose as in discharging gasoline. r

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of such nature that it shall notbe possible for an attendant to open the electric part of the apparatus for replacement of a bulb or batteries, without. entirely removing the nozzle portion of the discharge mechanism from the pump, whereby the chance of a spark igniting gasoline fumes adjacent the pump or other equip-J ment will be avoided.

A still further object of the invention is to pro duce a combined electric light and automatic switch of such nature that the switch will close a contact whereby the bulb, when placed in a predetermined position, is energized, to form a safety light for examination of tanks or the like, or for use where a spark from the ordinary manual or snap switch might create an explosion.

With the general objects named in view, and others as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and organization of parts as hereinafter described; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gasoline discharge nozzle embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an approximately full size vertical longitudinal section of the nozzle with the handle end omitted, and the light cartridge in elevation.

Figure 3 is a rear end view of the construction light cartridge.

(01. Will-6.4)

disclosed by Figure 2, but with its cap and gasket broken away.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section on the same scale as Figure 3, taken on the line IV- -IV of Figure 1. g Figure 5 is a fragmental horizontal section v on the line VV of Figure and also disclosing certain batteries omitted in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the cap. Figure '7 is a detail elevation of the gasket, I Figure 8 is a front end'view of the nozzle. I Figure 9 is a magnified cross section on the line-IXIX of Figure 10. 1 n

Figure 10 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the tip end of the nozzle and of the In the said drawings, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, l indicates a conventional valve mechanism for a gasoline discharging hose. As customarily made, the valve mechanism is provided with a threaded opening to receive a tubular discharge nozzle of ordinary type (not shown) Inthe'preferred form of the invention, the usual nozzle is dispensed with, and a discharge nozzle comprising one unit, a battery, light, switch, wire connections, and gasoline discharge tube, is employed. Such a combined nozzle unit is shown in the drawings, in which 2 is aliquid discharge tube formed at onetend with a threaded portion 3 for detachable engagement with the nozzle valve body i. Adjacent said threaded end and on opposite sides of the liquid discharge tube Zqand integral therewith, are a pair of tubular battery, compartments Q to receive the usual type of flash light'cells 5. I

Thetop wall of the batterycompartinents is integral and flat as shown at 6 and is spaced some distance above the liquid tube 2. A compartment having tubular ends connected by a narrow throat portion having a fiat top wall and a convex bottom wall, is thus provided, said compartment being of any desired length according to the number of flash light cells they are adapted to contain, or a single battery compartment might be used if large enough to contain sufficient cells. Opening in the battery compartment and centrally of the two battery tubes, is one end of a tube 1 integral with the gasoline tube 2, and extending for the full length thereof, so that the discharge portion of the nozzle is of general oval shape in exterior cross section. At its front end, the tube 1 is closed liquid and gas tight by a sealing compound Sin which a glass lens or bulls eye 9 is embedded. Fitted within the tube 1 and resting down on the lens, is an insulating and cushioning tube In of bakelite or similar material, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The light mechanism or cartridge comprises a glass container of any suitable shape, but as shown, is spherical at one end and cylindrical at the other end, the two compartments or chambers being sealed from each other by a partition II, the separate chambers being respectively numbered l2 and I3. Within the compartment I2 is, a lamp filament M, and the lead wires 55 and I6 of said filament extend through the partition H, where the wire l5 terminates adjacent the partition, while the other wire [6 is sealed from the compartment and passes out through the wall thereof. Arranged in suitable proximity to the end of the wire I5, is a second lead wire l1, leading out through the Wall of the compartment 13, it being understood that the wires where they pass through the glass walls are properly sealed. Within the compartment I 3 is a quantity of mercury 18 sufficient to simultaneously immerse the ends of wires I 5 and II when the nozzle is turned to inverted or partly inverted position, thus serving as a switch.

To more completely protect the lamp and switch mechanism described, the whole deviceis sealed within a glass orsimilar housing l9, and the lead wires I5 and I! pass through and are sealed in the glass wall of said housing. The housing I9 is of such diameter as to be snugly received within the cushion tube In to be held against vibration and possible accidental break- The ends of the lead wires 16 and H are soldered or otherwise connected to the ends of a pair of rubber covered lead wires 20 and 2!, and a bakelite or other sheathing plug 22 through which the wires are threaded, is shoved down over the connections to perfectly insulate them from each other and from the walls of the tube. The light cartridge and wires are assembled by pushing them down through the tube 1 from the rear end thereof through the throat of the battery compartment and the cartridge is held firmly down against the lens by means of a coiled spring 23 abutting at its front end against the plug 22,

a d at'its rear end against the gasket closing the rear end of the battery compartment throat as hereinafter identified.

By preference the batteries are assembled in the following manner: Placed'on the bottom of wires 2| and 20.

The parts as thus assembled are held in position by abutment with a cork or other suitable gasket 32, sealing the battery compartments by contact with the ends thereof and with a connecting flange 34 integral with the gasoline tube. Clamping pressure is imposed on the gasket 32 to hold the gasket, batteries and connecting wires in position, by placing a flanged end plate or cover plate 35 in position, said plate being held by a pair of bolts 36 in threaded engagement with tapped openings in ears 3'! formed integrally with the flange 34, but out of line with the light tube to avoid interference with the removal or replacement of the light cartridge.

It will be noted by reference to Figure 1 that in the preferred form, the bolts 36 are inaccessible for opening the battery compartment without first removing the nozzle from the valve casing. This is desirable as it practically obviates the possibility of a careless or uninformed attendant trying to replace batteries or light bulb while the device is connected toa filling station gasoline pump.

We claim:-

In a gasoline discharge appliance, a tube for the flow of gasoline, a second tube extending longitudinally of and in fixed relation and exterior to the first tube, a lens closing and sealed in the frontend' of the second tube, a battery and an incandescent lamp within the second tube, a housing for the lamp, a permanent and a normally broken conductor between the battery and lamp and extending longitudinally through the second tube, a plug abutting the rear end of the said housing, and holding portions of said conductors spaced apart, a spring within the second tube and applying forward pressure on the plug to hold the housing adjacent the lens, and a fluid conductor switch within the lamp to complete the broken conductor by gravitative action, when the appliance is held in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position. 7

STRAUD K. WOOD. BEN L. EALES. LEO V. DE WITT. 

